Tinea pedis

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can Sichuan pepper water cure athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection, and soaking feet in sichuan pepper water is not very effective in treating it. Sichuan pepper water has certain antibacterial and anti-itch effects, but while it is somewhat effective against common bacteria, its fungicidal action is not very strong. Therefore, it is essential to treat athlete's foot with standard antifungal creams, such as naftifine and ketoconazole ointment, which can completely cure the condition. The treatment period should be slightly longer to avoid incomplete eradication, leading to recurrence of the condition. Shoes and socks should be thoroughly sun-dried and disinfected, and towels and footbaths should be used separately from other family members to prevent cross-infection. For some more stubborn cases of athlete's foot, where topical medications do not work well, oral antifungal medications may be considered.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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Are cracked heels with calluses and blisters athlete's foot?

Heel cracking, calluses, and blisters appeared, and it is considered likely to be athlete's foot, which is mainly caused by fungal infection. Athlete's foot has several types, one of which is called the hyperkeratotic dry type, mainly characterized by dry, cracked heels, and is also accompanied by itching. Therefore, if there is heel cracking, calluses, and blistering, it is advisable to visit the dermatology department of a formal hospital promptly. You can have a fungal microscopy test and if it is confirmed to be a fungal infection causing the athlete's foot, treatment with antifungal drugs can be carried out. You may choose nitrate oxiconazole ointment or luliconazole ointment, as well as special terbinafine cream for treatment. If the symptoms are severe, oral antifungal medication should also be used in combination.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 33sec home-news-image

Severe oral ulcers and severe athlete's foot are generally what kind of disease?

There are many causes of oral ulcers, although it is a local mucosal ulceration and pain in the mouth that disrupts the eating habits and daily life of patients. However, the etiology of oral ulcers is quite complex, often involving individual differences. Some patients may have low immunity or genetic factors, and other systemic diseases or environmental factors can also lead to recurrent oral ulcers. In such cases, it is recommended that patients pay attention to diversifying their diet, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid frequently eating overly spicy, overly hot, or fried foods, as these can affect the body's metabolism. In addition, when patients experience severe athlete's foot, this may be related to poor lifestyle habits. Therefore, it's advised that patients pay attention to their habits, change shoes and socks frequently, and wash feet regularly, as these practices can benefit the treatment of athlete's foot. Moreover, when suffering from athlete's foot, it's crucial to maintain foot hygiene. It is advisable to wear soft cotton socks and ensure that shoes are clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Additionally, patients should focus on boosting their immune system by taking vitamins or mineral supplements, as these can effectively enhance the body’s resistance.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can athlete's foot spread to other parts of the body?

Athlete's foot, commonly known as tinea pedis, is an infection by dermatophytes and is contagious. For example, it can be contracted through the shared use of public items such as slippers and towels. It is important to enhance personal skin hygiene. Do not share personal items, and promptly and effectively disinfect contaminated items using methods such as disinfectants and exposure to sunlight. For the treatment of athlete's foot, the key is to provide adequate and appropriate antifungal symptomatic treatment. If necessary, oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole dispersible tablets or terbinafine hydrochloride tablets may be used. For topical treatment, creams like luliconazole or terbinafine cream can be applied to the affected areas.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 43sec home-news-image

Is peeling skin on the feet without itchiness athlete's foot?

Peeling on the feet without itchiness is generally due to hyperkeratosis type athlete's foot. This condition commonly affects the palmoplantar regions and the heel, where the skin is dry with noticeably thickened stratum corneum. The surface is rough and flaky with deepened skin lines. In winter, the skin can crack and even bleed, potentially causing pain, but usually, there is no itching. There are three common types of athlete's foot. Besides hyperkeratosis type, there are vesicular and interdigital maceration types. The vesicular type usually occurs on fingertips, palms, and sides of the feet, characterized by pinhead-sized blisters deep in the skin. These blisters have clear fluid, thick and shiny walls that are not easily ruptured. Blisters may cluster or spread out and can merge into larger blisters. Once the blister roof is torn off, it reveals a honeycomb-like base and a fresh red erosion. After several days, the blisters dry up, leading to a collar-shaped scaling, with the lesion continuously spreading peripherally, and recurrently characterized by scaling. This type has notably more itching. The interdigital maceration type is common in finger and toe webs, especially among individuals who sweat excessively, wear rubber shoes for prolonged periods, and is more prevalent in summer. This condition also features significant itching and can have a foul odor due to secondary bacterial infection.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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How to determine if it's athlete's foot on the hand

Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection. If someone with tinea pedis scratches their feet with their hands, they can transfer the fungus to their hands, resulting in tinea manuum, which is characterized by peeling skin on the hands. However, there are two common conditions that lead to hand peeling. One is tinea manuum, a fungal infection of the hands, often spread from tinea pedis. The other condition is eczema, so it is necessary to differentiate whether the symptoms are due to tinea manuum or eczema. Patients with tinea manuum typically have the infection on two feet and one hand; usually, only one hand is affected initially, not both hands symmetrically. If it is difficult to differentiate, it is advisable for patients to undergo a fungal examination at a hospital, which can confirm the diagnosis if the result is positive for fungus.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can soaking feet in ginger cure athlete's foot?

Soaking feet in ginger can effectively treat athlete's foot, but it requires a longer duration. If the soaking time is too short, it will not be effective in treating athlete's foot and needs to be carried out over a long term. Generally, it is recommended to soak for about 15 to 30 minutes—neither too long nor too short. Soaking for too short a period will be ineffective, and soaking for too long may cause some negative effects, so extra attention is needed. Regular foot soaking also benefits the body by promoting blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and improving physical constitution.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can soaking feet in white vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Using white vinegar for foot soaking is not a treatment for athlete's foot, which is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungus, commonly known as tinea pedis. Standard and effective antifungal treatments are required. It is necessary to enhance foot hygiene, frequently change socks and shoes, keep the feet dry and ventilated, and use antifungal medications such as oral terbinafine hydrochloride tablets. Apply antifungal creams like luliconazole cream and miconazole cream to the affected areas. Adequate dosage and course of treatment are needed to prevent the recurrence of symptoms, often requiring continuous application for more than three weeks. Athlete’s foot is prone to occur in summer as fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. Therefore, cleanliness is considered a fundamental caregiving measure. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can soaking feet in vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a condition caused by skin fungal infections affecting the superficial layers of the skin on the feet. For treatment, one can opt for antifungal ointments, and when necessary, oral antifungal medications, which are very effective in killing fungi. However, using home remedies like soaking feet in white vinegar, salt water, or applying garlic locally is not advisable. These do not effectively kill the bacteria and can instead damage the skin barrier and irritate the skin, potentially causing symptoms such as redness, flaking, and itchy sensitivity. If the concentration of vinegar is too low, it is ineffective; if too high, it can be intolerable for the skin. Therefore, if you have athlete's foot, it is best to opt for proper antifungal medications and ensure treatment for a sufficient duration.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Can athlete's foot blisters be popped?

The term "athlete's foot" refers to the common name for tinea pedis, a skin infection caused by dermatophytes. It can manifest as various types of skin lesions, such as blisters. In cases like blistering athlete's foot, it is important to enhance local cleanliness of the blistered area while avoiding harmful actions such as forcibly picking or squeezing, to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound. Symptomatic treatment with antifungal agents is necessary, including oral itraconazole capsules and other antifungal medications. For topical treatment, applying a wet compress of boric acid solution followed by triamcinolone acetonide econazole cream, or a compound Cannale cream can be used, but these should be applied for a short term only. If symptoms improve after three to five days, the treatment should be switched to antifungal creams such as ketoconazole cream or terbinafine cream, with a treatment period of at least two weeks.